Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Geology

The Solar System: Planets and Origins

Planets of Our Solar System

According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Origin of the Solar System

Observations supporting theories of solar system formation include:

• The Sun and the planets revolve in the same direction.
• The planets travel in nearly circular orbits lying in the same plane.
• The rotation of most planets occurs in the same direction as their convection.
• Planets near the Sun are small and dense, while external planets are large and lightweight.
• All planetary bodies show evidence of large impacts.

The Planetesimal Theory

Designed by astronomers Carl F. Von Weizsäcker and Gerard Kuiper between 1944 and 1950, this... Continue reading "Understanding Our Solar System and Earth's Dynamic Geology" »

Weathering Processes

Physical or Mechanical Weathering

• Temperature Changes: Rocks expand when heated and shrink when cooled.
• Frost Wedging (Gelification): The breakdown of rocks caused by the expansion of water as it freezes into ice.

Chemical Weathering

This process is common in humid climates.

• Oxidation: Iron, one of the most common chemical elements in nature, is part of many minerals and rocks and reacts with oxygen.
• Solution: Some rocks and minerals, like salt (halite), dissolve easily in water.

Soil Formation and Composition

Soil is formed by the weathering of rocks, caused by water, air, and living organisms.

• Allochthonous: Originates in a place other than its current site and has been transported by a geological agent.
• Autochthonous (Indigenous)

Geographical Terminology Reference

Antique Solid (Ancient Mountains)

These beds are remnants of ancient mountains that appeared or were formed by the rejuvenation of a base block resulting from orogenic movements in the Tertiary period. Their materials are Paleozoic, and the landscape is characterized by rounded peaks and soft, elevated erosion surfaces.

Map

Definition

The representation of the spherical surface of the Earth on a simplified level.

Topographic Map

A map described in detail and with great precision for small portions of land. These systems are constructed using contour lines.

Meridian

Each of the imaginary lines assumed around the Earth connecting the poles. They help determine longitude by reference to the Meridian of Greenwich.

Plateau

A... Continue reading "Geographical Terms Explained: Relief, Maps, and Earth Structures" »

Petroleum Refining: Cracking Process

Sometimes, crude oil distillation yields only a small percentage of gasoline. To increase this percentage, a secondary distillation process called cracking is used. Cracking breaks down high molecular weight hydrocarbons (such as gas oil and fuel oil) into lower molecular weight compounds (like gasoline). This process always forms hydrogen and carbon compounds. It is very important in petroleum refineries as a way to increase gasoline production at the expense of heavier, less valuable products, such as kerosene and fuel oil.

Types of Cracking

There are two main types of cracking: thermal and catalytic.

• Thermal Cracking: This process involves heating the heavier parts of crude oil to high temperatures under

Understanding Pollution and Its Control

The concept of pollution is related to humanity's ability to modify its environment beyond its own subsistence needs and related activities, much like other animal species. To combat pollution, control regulations often focus on 'end-of-pipe' solutions. This means ordering actions to remove or treat contaminants. The strategy aims to render emitted contaminants harmless or to package and store theoretical compounds away from the environment. However, the true solution to environmental problems lies in preventing and avoiding contamination altogether.

Defining Atmospheric Contamination

Atmospheric contamination occurs when the air's composition changes, altering its chemical and physical properties, or when... Continue reading "Impacts of Pollution on Our Atmosphere" »

Spain is geographically softened, like an inaccessible castle. The Iberian Peninsula has the highest average altitude in Europe, second only to Switzerland. The coast is often surrounded by walls, and the citadel would be the plateau, with a mean altitude of 700 meters. This plateau is the higher, more archaic, and more exposed part of the peninsula. However, even within this core, inaccessibility occurs again, as if there were more castles within the main one.

Geological Evolution

The geological evolution of the Iberian Peninsula is primarily due to its location between the African and European plates. There are several geological land surface sets in Iberia:

Geological Sets

• Very Ancient Materials (Precambrian or Archaic): Heavily affected by

Factors Shaping Spain's Climate

Geographical Influences

1. Latitude

   The location of Spain in the Northern Hemisphere determines the existence of two distinct transitional periods (spring and autumn).

2. Situation (Crossroads)

   Spain is a crossroads between two continents (Europe and Africa) and two oceans (Atlantic and Mediterranean).

3. Relief Systems

   • The Galician-Cantabrian and Pyrenean systems hinder the entry of air masses.
   • The Central System protects the southern plateau from maritime influence.
   • The Pyrenees and maritime masses (West-Southwest) obstruct penetration.
   • The Iberian continental and polar mass effect is delimited by the Southern Iberian system, separating Atlantic and Mediterranean influences.
   • Coincidence of geographic and climatic areas.

Thermodynamic

Earth's Dynamic Surface: Landforms and Geological Processes

Factors Influencing Relief Formation

• Rock Type: Each rock possesses specific characteristics. For instance, granite can yield different forms of clay due to its composition.
• Climate: The predominant external geological agent in an area is determined by climate. In temperate regions, water is the most important agent, whereas in cold climates, ice is dominant.
• Structure of Materials: Rocks that have been folded or fractured provide initial conditions for their subsequent shaping and deformation.
• Relief Formation Processes: External geological agents remove materials from one place and deposit them in another, constantly reshaping the landscape.

Major Geological Agents and Their Effects

Water

Weather

Weather is one of the most influential factors in the distribution of living beings on Earth. It is defined as the combination of meteorological phenomena that determine the atmospheric conditions characterizing a place.

Weather Elements

• Air Temperature: The amount of heat contained in the atmosphere at a given time, measured with a thermometer.
• Barometric Pressure: The weight of air exerted on Earth's surface, varying according to temperature and measured using a barometer.
• Wind: The movement of air caused by differences in temperature and atmospheric pressure.
• Atmospheric Moisture: The amount of water contained in the lower layers of the atmosphere, measured with a hygrometer. Clouds form from this moisture.
• Rainfall: The amount of precipitation

Common Energy Units Explained

• Joule (J): The standard international (SI) unit of energy. One kilojoule (kJ) equals 1000 joules.
• Kilocalorie (kcal): A unit commonly used to measure heat energy, often seen in nutritional contexts.
• Kilowatt-hour (kWh): A unit primarily used to measure electrical energy consumption over time.

Fundamental Forms of Energy

• Mechanical Energy: Associated with motion and position.
• Thermal Energy: Related to temperature and heat.
• Chemical Energy: Stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, released or absorbed during chemical reactions.
• Nuclear Energy: Released from the disintegration of radioactive substances or the splitting/fusion of atomic nuclei.
• Radiant Energy: Energy transmitted through electromagnetic waves, such as light.